Toews, Cornelius J. (1852-1915)

Cornelius J. Toews: a leading agricultural expert of the Mennonites of Russia; b. 4 February 1852 in the village of Altona in the Molotschna Mennonite settlement. He married Helena Wiens (1848-1920) and they had seven children (see Additional Information for more information regarding Cornelius' family). Cornelius d. 4 April 1915.

In his youth he recognized the value of innovations by Johann Cornies. As the owner of a large farm at Ebenfeld, near Genichesk, a port on the Sea of Asov, he practiced the culture of grain combined with summer fallow (Schwarzbrache), and was one of the pioneers in this profitable method of farming in the Ukraine. His prosperity enabled him both to acquire more and more land and also to give large sums to charitable purposes. He built privately the first telephone in the area of Melitopol.